Last week of this Summer at Dessert Land and Livestock

Monday August 15. Today we all had interviews with Elder Mark Durham and his wife Mary. He is the Area Authority Seventy over Dessert Land and Livestock. They are the sweetest people and we loved visiting with them. We were asked to come back next summer again and serve.

Elder Mark Durham, wife Mary R. Durham, Sister Call, Elder Call

Most of the day for Sister Call was spent working on the yearbook for the mission. It is hard to believe how many hours goes into making it. We had a very special night with the wonderful Evanston Stake Presidency at President Lester's ranch. We had a wonderful dinner of ribs and all the trimmings. The highlight of the night was what is called "High Speed Bowling." This is shooting bowling balls form a cannon. We had so much fun watching them fly. Some went so far you could not follow them. This is a cannon that was home made.

President Lester, at their Ranch

Lighting the cannon, ready to fire the bowling balls.

We had a beautiful Testimony meeting afterwards. This Stake Presidency has really taken us under their wings this summer. They are so fun to be with.

Enjoying dinner at Lesters Ranch

At Lester's Ranch

Tuesday August 16. Today was our P-day but not for us working on the yearbook all day for the mission. It takes forever to get all the pictures of all the missionaries sorted and loaded. Thank goodness I had all day to work on it.

Wednesday August 17. Today our dear sweet missionary friends Elder and Sister Walker left. It is always sad to say good-bye. A lot of assignments were given up to wrap things up for the winter here. Also lots to set up for Trek Training on Saturday. My assignment was to finish the yearbook and get it ordered. I finished it with the help of some of the other Sister missionaries, Sister Howard and sister Hutchings. They have wonderful ideas and suggestions. We got it ordered by about 3:00 pm. What a big relief to have it finished.

We attended the Evanston 5th Ward end of summer party. Every night this last week it seems like we are partying here. We have come to know and love these people of Evanston.

Before we went we visited Elder and Sister Johnson, who are from Evanston, home. They have a Model A car, They have been so great to serve with this summer at DL&L.

Elder Johnson's Model A car

Thursday August 18. We had the morning to prepare for our parts on Trek Training, that will take place on Saturday. So for a few hours we were working on our power points, or getting all our props together. Our trailer was a busy place with lots of missionaries asking Elder Call to add pictures or find pictures for their presentations.We all get 5 or 10 minutes depending on your subject. Then we all critique each other on what we need to fix to make it better.

We had a nice salmon dinner with the Hutchings. We both had salmon frozen all summer and took no time to cook it. It was nice to relax outside with them and enjoy this nice dinner.

We sure eat  really well on this mission.

Salmon dinner, it was so good.

Sister Hutchings  and Sister Call enjoyed a nice walk, along by the ponds by our trailers, and the moon was so full and beautiful tonight. When we got back we texted the other missionaries to go look at it. You could hear all the doors open to look at it. We got a text back from the Walkers, who left that said, "It is beautiful in Idaho as well!" They are so cute. Sister Hutchings taught me that you can see the dark spots looks like a rabbit. I learned something new.

Beautiful sunset, behind the skunk shed.

Ducks on the pond by our trailers.

Friday August 19. The day before Trek Training. A lot of the food prep was done today for trek training. Elder Call has to teach about the handcarts so set up a tarp to demonstrate shade. More details of the displays to make. More power point presentations to tweak. We took a break in the afternoon to go see the Dairy Barn that is about 10 miles on gravel roads to see the siding that is going on. This barn is where we store a lot of the handcarts, porta johns for the winter. The Evanston Stake was doing this. They are an amazing Stake. They are always willing to volunteer so much time to do projects at the ranch.

The dairy barn, before it has the siding on it.

The other side of the dairy barn with the new siding.

We had a few hours of talking and eating snow cones at Hutchings trailer. Elder Ekins entertained us with showing his knife sharpening abilities. He has so many different kinds of stones.

Then we adventured to the fire pit for a night of cooking hot dogs and visiting  all together for the last time. Elder Ekins not only entertained us with his knife sharpening but with his knowledge of flash lights. Then we all had to show off our flashlights and had a contest for which ones worked the best. We were laughing so hard. It doesn't take a lot to entertain missionaries.

Enjoying our last Friday night at the ranch, love a nice campfire.

Enjoying snow cones at the Hutchings trailer.

Saturday August 20. Trek training day, we had 240 people come to be trained. These are the key people over treks in their wards or stakes who are coming next summer for trek. We start at 9:00 and finish about 12:30 and then feed them lunch. It was so fun to have Bob and Irene Moore come from our home ward. They just returned from their mission in Baltimore Maryland and came to check out this mission. After trek training some took about a mile walk pulling handcarts.

Elder Call presenting at Trek Training

Sister Call presenting at Trek Training

Lot's of clean up afterwards and with 22 people helping it goes quite fast. A few hours later and the trek center was filled with some handcarts, Farm trucks and 4 wheelers.  
     We then had a meeting with the passing of the stick to Elder and Sister Peart the new trek directors, and hearing from the four couples who are finished with their second year and leaving.

Elder and Sister Call turning over the staff and key box to the new trek directors the Pearts.

Sunday August 21. We attended the farewell for Alex Richens farewell. He is the son of Ryan Richens who took us to Echo Canyon last week. Then to the Young Single Adult Branch to sing for the last time this summer. We are getting quite good at singing in Sacrament meeting.

Sister Barton leading our Missionary Choir.

The last Sunday dinner, and then later Sunday night a fun game night with some of the missionaries.
We are going to miss this summer and we are so thankful we were able to serve here. It has been an amazing mission and we never knew we could learn to love the sage brush and dirt. We heard a saying form one post trek fireside. "Pure dirt don't hurt." We have come to love the dirt on this dedicated land.

So many pretty flowers on the ranch

Some geese on the ranch.

Sunset over the sheering corral.

Dear on the mountain side.

We love being missionaries, we love serving the youth of the church, we love the pioneers that sacrificed so much to come to Zion. We love to provide opportunities to strengthen their testimonies, build unity, help them do family history, and  learn core  gospel principles. This is why we love being missionaries at Dessert Land and Livestock. Until next summer Elder and Sister Call.